Black Conservatives Condemn Mary Frances Berry’s Cynical Comments on Progressive Racial Politics

In an interview with Politico, Mary Frances Berry — a former chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights last reappointed by President Bill Clinton — called the progressive tactic of trying to smear the tea party movement as racist an “effective strategy” that she chose not to denounce.

Berry’s cynical remarks are drawing rebukes for members of the Project 21 black leadership network.

“As an active participant in the tea party movement, I know the movement’s motivation is about Obama’s policies and not his race,” said Deneen Borelli, a Project 21. “Race card politics is the last-ditch effort to shift the debate away from President Obama’s harmful policies such as the government’s takeover of health care and his failure to create jobs — both of which are having an impact on his popularity. This diversion may also help Obama to try to jam through cap-and-trade legislation through Congress. It’s a grand distraction from policies and may unfortunately increase racial tensions.”

In an interview posted on the Politico web site, Berry — now the Geraldine R. Segal Professor of American Social Thought and History at the University of Pennsylvania — was asked the question “[W]ill branding the tea party ‘racist’ work?” Berry replied:

Tainting the tea party movement with the charge of racism is proving to be an effective strategy for Democrats. There is no evidence that tea party adherents are any more racist than other Republicans, and indeed many other Americans. But getting them to spend their time purging their ranks and having candidates distance themselves should help Democrats win in November. Having one’s opponent rebut charges of racism is far better than discussing joblessness.

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